News Update from Town Hall - March 31, 2021
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Hello and Happy April to all:
Well, I am today beginning my second year as Mayor of Palm Beach Shores. We all are beginning our second year of coping with life in a Pandemic, the end of which is not yet in sight. With the number of folks completing the vaccination protocol, the increasing knowledge of how to live with ever present virus threat and knowledge of how to more efficiently treat those who are infected, life is slowly beginning to show signs of normalizing. As for our Town, due to the cooperation of the residents and their adherence to the various restrictions, we have weathered the storm with essentially no long-term impact. In his comments, Chief Stedman will be sorting through the various news reports and varying predictions and trying to give you all the most accurate possible view, based on fact provided by the County and State, of where things stand at this point.
Meanwhile, we have just completed Passover and Palm Sunday. Easter is this Sunday, April 4th, and although we didn’t have the traditional Easter Egg Hunt and hamburger fry due to COVID-19 precautions, Happy Easter to all our Christian residents. Moreover, on the 12th of April, our Muslim resident will begin the Holy Month of Ramada, which brings with it dawn to dust fasting.
Finally, just a few miles to our south we have been witnessing the annual (and some would say irresponsible) frolicking of spring breakers. And I can’t help but think back to late March 1959 when I was one of the revelers. Back then, we slept on the beach in Pompano and there wasn’t a building in sight. A lot has changed!
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Turning to Town business, March was a quiet month. In the Workshop we discussed these items |
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The question of whether or not to proceed with the traditional social events was reviewed. The decisions were yes for the Spring Fling, The Fire Department Drive Through BBQ, and the POA block parties, but no for the Easter Egg Hunt. This “no” was due to the fact that this event is broadly attended by folks not residing in Town and therefore there was concern about Covid-19 exposure.
- We again discussed the golf cart issue. The concept of authorizing parking along the east side of the access road was scrapped due to concerns by the Fire Marshal. We will continue searching for ways to accommodate our golf cart uses without encroaching on the interests of others (pedestrians and residents).
- The issue of trimming of trees in the ten-foot Town right of way along the streets was discussed, with the various options being reviewed. The consensus was that the Town should pay for trimming of Coconut Palms twice a year, other palms and hardwood trees once a year. Palms on the Inlet Walkway and at the Beach will be trimmed three times a year.
- I briefed the Commissioners concerning the ongoing discussions between our Town, Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, and the County on the future of the Kennedy Bunker and Coast Guard Station on the south end of Peanut Island. Riviera Beach has been lobbying for almost a year to take control of this area, renovate the facilities and build a new events center which would be sponsored by some commercial entity. Had Riviera Beach prevailed, it would have meant a significant increase in activity on the Island. The County, Palm Beach, and Palm Beach Shores opposed this idea. Four separate meetings were held to discuss and argue the separate positions. The issue was discussed at two Port Commission Meetings (Peanut Island is owned by the Port). At the Port Commission meeting on March 18th the issue was again discussed, with Riviera Beach stating that while they continue to think their concept has merit, they do not think it can succeed in the face of opposition by the County and the other two neighboring Towns. The Port Commission then voted 5-0 to proceed with the County and ask the County to work with the three neighboring Towns to arrive at a census regarding the activities at the facilities and to ensure inclusiveness.
I briefed the Commission on the plan of Riviera Beach to replace the water main on Lake Drive and Inlet Way. The current 6 inches main will be replaced with a new 10 inch main. The plans have been approved and put out to bid. As of this time a contractor has been or is about to be selected. At the current time, work is planned to begin sometime this summer or early fall. As this will mean major construction and traffic disruption on these streets, we will keep you all posted on events on a timely basis.
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The March Regular Commission meeting featured only the staff reports, the consent agenda, and the approval of the monthly financial report.
The 2021 Reorganization Meeting was held on March 29th. Tracy Larcher was sworn in as a new Commissioner. As no other Commissioner were present, the meeting was adjourned until Monday, April 5th at which time two new Commissioners will be appointed as well as a new Planning and Zoning Board.
As for the undergrounding project, all the utility poles in Town have been topped. Five concrete poles were completely removed as they had no wires on them. Comcast is now working to complete their runs on Inlet Way where additional remedial digging and conduit run installation are required. Once this is completed, it will be a dash to the finish line for them. Then they will take their cable down from the poles. AT&T has started to install the fiber runs. The run from Beach to Edward on Lake Drive is finished. They started the run-up, Edwards, to their main distribution box on the south end of the Town Hall parking lot, but ran into difficulty. They will resume once the conduit (installed by them) is cleared. The other streets will follow.
And that is a wrap!
Alan
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TREVOR STEEDMAN - FIRE CHIEF
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The COVID-19 Census tract data and daily lab positivity rates for Palm Beach County remain stable. The hospitalization and death rates in the County continue downward and the number of persons being vaccinated is increasing. However, we are receiving mixed messages from a variety of subject matter experts. The outlooks range from staying the course with cautious optimism that the pandemic is winding down (especially with more people being vaccinated) to impending doom. Add to this the regular reporting of new variant strains of the virus that are presumably more contagious but much less lethal (There are over 1,000 variant strains in Florida: PBC with 217 variants and Broward with 781). To help navigate this turbulent sea of data, this week’s PBC Emergency Manager’s Conference Call provided a bit of clarity as to why current information is so dissociated. The CDC is very concerned about a 4th wave and has used some very apocalyptic language to illustrate their point. County Health Department officials are also concerned about a 4th wave, as some folks who have received the vaccine have a false sense of invincibility and have abandoned social distancing and mask-wearing practices in public spaces. On April 5th, anyone 18 years of age and older are eligible to receive the vaccine in the State of Florida. However, the 18–44-year-old age range is reportedly the most reluctant demographic when it comes to wanting to get vaccinated. County health officials assert that staying the course with current, common-sense preventative measures and more people getting vaccinated will keep us from experiencing anything akin to an Armageddon-like 4th wave.
Speaking of waves, hurricane Season is once again on our doorstep. Fortunately, many of our residents are seasoned veterans when it comes to hurricane preparedness. The goal is to be self-sustained for at least 3-5 days. As we have seen with Federal, State, and County responses with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, resources and supplies are not always readily or easily obtainable. To that end, self-sufficiency at the personal and local level is paramount to the best possible outcome. Some helpful reminders and links are listed below. Of course, the most common preparation reminders are:
- One gallon of water per person per day for at least 5 days, for drinking and sanitation
- Non-Perishable and canned food (Don’t forget a manual can opener)
- Have prescription medications filled in advance.
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An extensive, one-page preparation checklist can be found at:
Lastly, but certainly not least, THANK YOU to all those who supported our Volunteer Fire Association fundraising efforts. We are grateful to be able to serve in such a supportive and generous community!
We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. As always, please reach out with questions or if we can be of any assistance. tsteedman@pbsfire.org or (561) 296-3380
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STEVE LANGEVIN - SGT. - DISTRICT #20 |
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A few months ago, we received the OK to open the District Office/Police Station, from Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Mary or I will be there if you need to stop by.
Just as a reminder the non-emergency number to request a deputy or report an incident is 561-688-3400, the 561-844-3456 continues to work and is transferred to the main number. Of course, 911 is always available.
Our thanks to the Property Owner’s Association for inviting us to the “Meet and Greet Your Neighbor” events on the parkway. It is a great way for us to introduce ourselves to the new residents and old alike.
We received great news from Sheriff Bradshaw, he has approved all the items we had requested at no charge to the Town.
Two new CCTV camera systems will be installed at the Beach Parking Lot/Community Center area. The second area is around Ocean Avenue and Inlet Way. These cameras have proved to be a great asset to us in many ways. This is the third new system Sheriff Bradshaw has installed, in Town. This is in addition to taking over the expenses of the license plate readers and CCTV systems at the 3 entrances to Town upon our merge.
The Sheriff also approved our request for two new 4 X 4 police-equipped pickup trucks, these will help in any potential storm.
Along with a new laser for traffic, the total approved request was $143.000.00, none of which is charged to the Town’s agreed-upon budget.
We were paid another visit by PBSO mounted unit this time with three horses, two of which were the Clydesdales. They walked the beach and continued to the parkway and then on several streets. They seem to love our Town, and I love seeing and interacting with them.
Please stay safe and call if you need us.
Sergeant. Steve Langevin
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ALAN WELCH - DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS |
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The Public Works Department is pleased to announce the opening of the new and improved Beach Boardwalk on March 25, 2021. The new construction of the Beach Boardwalk not only enhances the beauty surrounding our beach entrance but also allows for easy access to our beautiful beach. The new composite deck boards will allow for a smooth and level surface to walk on and the sturdy railings to assist withholding support. The Public Works staff appreciated all the encouraging words and support that we received during the construction phase of the Boardwalk. Enjoy!
Alan Welch
Director of Public Works
Town of Palm Beach Shores
247 Edwards Lane
Palm Beach Shores, FL 33404
Office (561) 844-3457
Cell (561) 644-9542
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PALM BEACH SHORES
FLOOD FACTS
Flooding in Palm Beach Shores is caused by heavy rainfall that occurs in short periods of time, as is common during summer thunderstorms. However, the greatest flood threats come from the excessive amounts of rainfall that accompany coastal storms, tropical storms and hurricanes. Residents should be aware that Palm Beach Shores is linked to the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center. Palm Beach County has an Emergency Management Plan (EMP) that includes a number of warning systems, outlined in the attached.
Know the Flood Hazard
Flooding in Palm Beach Shores is caused by heavy rainfall that occurs in short period of time, as is common during summer thunderstorms. However, the greatest flood threats come from the excessive amounts of rainfall that accompanies coastal storms, tropical storms, and hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th.
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RVs – To be allowed to park your Recreational Vehicles (RV) in the driveway, the owner or renter of the property must obtain a no-fee permit from the Town; prior to the temporary parking of the RV. The RV shall not be over 25 feet in length. This is intended for loading and unloading and shall not exceed 48 hours. Such temporary parking permits shall be issued only twice in any 30-day period and only if the recreational vehicle is under control of the owner or renter of the property.
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Portable Storage Units (aka PODs) –
For a Single-Family dwelling, owners or renters must obtain a no fee permit prior to placement of a POD. PODs are allowed for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days, however, one extension of 30 days may be granted for good cause. Only one POD is permitted in any 12 month period, unless there is a change in ownership. Placement shall be in the driveway or other parking area, not damaging grass or landscaping. Placement shall not be in the right-of-way or easement.
For Multi-Family dwellings and other nonresidential uses, POD’s are only allowed to be used in conjunction with and during the duration of a valid building permit issued by the Town.
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POA Environmental Committee (EC) Arbor Day Event - April 9th, 10:00 a.m. @ Parkway and Sandal |
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“Connecting the Interests, Ideas and Energy of our Community”
Palm Beach Shores POA April Events
April 4th, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tacoma Lane POA "Party on the Parkway"
April 18th, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Claremont Lane POA "Party on the Parkway"
April 25th, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Linda Lane POA "Party on the Parkway"
Yoga Continues in April every Monday, Thursday and Saturday
Come on out and enjoy the sense of community that makes Palm Beach Shores "The Best Little Town in Florida"
For more information on these and other fun POA events
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Help us keep in touch with you.
Sign up for Town emails as follows:
- Click on “Sign Up for our Newsletter”
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Fill out the form and click “Submit”
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CODERED Emergency Notifications
(Particularly useful during hurricanes)
- Follow the instructions to create an account.
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Sea Turtle Nesting Season
Sea turtle nesting season in Palm Beach County is March 1st through October 31st each year.
Do not disturb the turtles or nests – noise and lights (including flashlights & flash cameras) will keep them from nesting. Please make sure you have no lights shining toward the beach after dark – lights draw hatchlings away from the ocean, causing the death of many hundreds of babies each year. Thank you for caring.
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